ON TO TAMPA

08.14.12

Chris Christie to Give RNC Keynote

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Now that Paul Ryan will be a little busy in Tampa, Republicans have tapped Chris Christie to give the keynote address at the convention at the end of the August—a sign that Christie is being groomed for a 2016 run. The sought-after keynote address is usually given to a rising star in the party—little known as an Illinois senate candidate, President Obama gave the 2004 Democratic keynote speech—and Christie has famously fired up the GOP’s base with his no-nonsense style and budget slashing. On Sunday, Christie hinted at a 2016 run, saying that he “will be unemployed after 2013, so who knows?”